The Business Record’s 2018 Leaders Survey asked readers their opinions on a number of topics, including choose walkability or parkability in Greater Des Moines. You can find results from the Nov. 30 issue here. We’re sharing other results and comments in our e-newsletters.

Question: Agree or disagree: Employers should offer tuition reimbursement for employees.

Agree: 63.5%

Disagree: 19.2%

I’m not sure: 17.3%

Readers’ comments:

Jeff Damman, VP, MetaBank

I’m not sure. [It] should be employers’ choice, great recruiting tool.

Jim Plagge, president and CEO, Bank Iowa

Agree. A tuition reimbursement program encourages further education and develops even better employees.

Katie Fergus, owner and president, PractiSynergy

Disagree. Benefits should be designed to reflect the culture and values of the employer. Employers may equally value education and life-long learning; however, tuition reimbursement may not be the correct benefit for every employer.

Todd McDonald, president, ATW Training Solutions

Our current and future workforce can be retained by offering development opportunities. Tuition reimbursement is one way but needs to include more than just degree-based programs. There are many options for development and organizations need to do their own “homework” on finding the best programs for their employees.

Philip Hodgin, principal and corporate CEO, RDG Planning & Design

It is certainly a nice recruiting tool but no employer should be forced to provide any benefit. Any benefit beyond base compensation is provided by an employer to attract and retain the best talent available.

Tom Flynn, president, Lessing-Flynn

I’m not sure. Employers need to be smart about attracting and keeping their best talent. Employers need to decide for themselves the most effective ways to do that.

Beth Shelton, CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa

I’m not sure. Every benefit offered has a true cost to an organization. Giving employees options that drive engagement and retention is important is an important business decision for an employer, but that menu of options is diverse. Professional development can reach way beyond tuition reimbursement in ways that may be more economical: from offering executive coaching to flexibility on sitting on local boards.

Joseph Benesh, president and CEO, Ingenuity Co.

Agree. Adding or getting a degree to improve the diversity of skills in the workforce in Central Iowa is critical to our continued growth and expansion as a community, and I feel businesses should actively support that in a meaningful way.

Surasee Rodari, vice president, Bankers Trust

Agree. It encourage employees to be better; education opens door.

Robin Salsberry, president, Prositions Inc.

Agree. I think this is a great investment employers can make in their employees.

Joe Young, president, Crop Pro Insurance Services Inc.

Agree. Within guidelines established by the company.

Jim Green, principal, Mercer

Agree. [It’s a] great investment in your most valuable asset – your people.